NEW DELHI:
From the historical monuments of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to the enchanting valleys of Srinagar, north India is full of numerous heritage-rich sites known for surreal topography, stunning views, diverse culture and vibrant people.
These and many other lesser-explored aspects of north Indian heritage will come alive during the month-long second edition of Sahapedia’s India Heritage Walk Festival (IHWF) 2019,organised in collaboration with UNESCO, from February 02-28.All bookings for the festival are powered by Odigos, a product by the Bird Group, is an online marketplace that connects tourists to certified guides in India. Odigos app provides a seamless way for travellers and locals alike to understand and explore the iconic sites of our country.
For Dilliwalahs, especially those interested in Old Delhi, a walk revolving around the stories related to spice, sugar and spittoons from Khari Baoli will be keenly awaited. Conducted by literature student Priya Poddar, who has taken numerous trips to Khari Baoli as a child, the walk will explore one of the largest markets in Old Delhi, where spices, herbs, incense, dry fruits and perfumes are sold. The three-hour free guided tour will take place on February 02, at 9 am.
No historical exploration of Delhi is complete without a visit to Purana Qila, the majestic 16th-century fort built on the banks of Yamuna during Mughal king Humayun’s reign. Keeping this in mind, conservation architect Archana Sharma will be leading the heritage walk at the Old Fort on February 03, 1:30 pm onwards.
While Varanasi is known as one of the most ancient and holy cities in the world, it has numerous unknown pilgrimage and historical sites, that have deep religious and cultural importance. The walk, led by historian Ajay Ratan Banerjee on February 02, will explore these sites, culminating in a visit to Town Hall, where the spark of the Quit India Movement was first ignited in Varanasi.
Extending its foray into the state of Uttar Pradesh, IHWF will hold a heritage walk in Allahabad for the first time, focusing on “Trailing the Churches of Allahabad – The Colonial Capital of Uttar Pradesh.” Dr. Kavita Gupta, who is a travel expert known for curating such guided tours, will be leading this walk on February 03, from 10:30 am.
Home to some of the most richly ornate and historically significant churches, the Allahabad walk will take the participants through some of these churches near Civil Lines area, other sites such as the All Saints’ Cathedral and the oldest church of Allahabad, Union Church.
In Agra, history enthusiast and kalarippayattu practitioner Jitendra Kumar will conduct a guided tour at Sikandra, the final resting place of Mughal emperor Akbar.The walk, to be held on February 03,will focus on Akbar’s life and beliefs, the monument’s design and history,and a dwindling city forest. The tour will also have poetry reading sessions and a live rendition of the flute.
The IHWF, which received the prestigious PATA Gold Award 2018 for its maiden edition organised last year, is a one-of-its-kind month-long festival covering 37 cities, with nearly 100 heritage walks and outreach events. The February 02-28 festival is being supported by NMDC, a state-run mineral producer and explorer. The events’ bookings are facilitated by Odigos, an app that makes travel and discovery easier in India.
Vaibhav Chauhan, Festival Director (IHWF) and Secretary, Sahapedia, said: “We want to democratise access to local history and culture. One might be living in the same neighbourhood for years, but there is a big chance that an important landmark, tucked away in a back alley, has been missed and forgotten. The IHWF is that opportunity to discover the hidden gems linked to the history of a place, town or city.”
Junhi Han, Head and Programme Specialist for Culture, UNESCO New Delhi office, said, “The IHWF programme addresses knowledge of local architectural heritage, sustainable tourism, with a special focus on gender-related issues and accessibility in cultural heritage facilitating more inclusive and better outreach. The festival is expected to involve, engage and sensitize more people, in particular the youth, about their cultural heritage.”
N. Baijendra Kumar, CMD, NMDC, said: “Initiatives like IHWF involve local communities which is integral for promoting India’s heritage. NMDC has been working in the remotest tribal areas of Bastar and Bailadila Hills for the past 60 years and also has closely promoted tribal culture, and other forms of Indian heritage. We are supporting Sahapedia in its efforts to increase civil society participation in understanding our nation’s heritage.”
Dr. Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group, said: “The Bird Group is always looking towards the future, and an important part of the future is understanding and cherishing the past. This association with Sahapedia brings us a step closer to achieving our vision of making Indian arts and culture inclusive and interactive. Odigos app by Bird Group, that aims to streamline guided travel tour experiences of travellers, will play the role of a tech enablerf or Sahapedia’s IHWF bookings and support the guides community”.
Details about the walks, registration and other programmes of IHWF 2019 are available on https://www.odigosguides.com/India-heritage-walk-festival
